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All students are required to have formed a Graduate Supervisory Committee consisting of their Senior Supervisor and at least 2 other members by the end of their first month of enrollment. The Supervisory Committee has the authority to specify an appropriate program of course work meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements stated below.

Students in both programs are required to submit an annual progress report. The progress report consist of an evaluation of the student's progress by the committee, a summary of courses taken and grades achieved, a summary of financial support, and an evaluation done by the student of his/her progress over the last year.

All graduate students are expected to attend our Friday afternoon MBB Research Seminar Series and to regularly participate in a journal club. Journal clubs are discussion groups that focus on the current research literature, and can be in the form of the MBB colloquia, or informal groups consisting of the members of one or more research laboratories.

MSc Degree Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Course Work

Students complete 12 units of graduate courses, including:

  • MBB 801-3 Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I

and one unit of MBB colloquia by completing one of:

  • MBB 821-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 822-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 823-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 861-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium
  • MBB 862-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium
  • MBB 863-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium

and another eight units selected from other graduate courses, chosen in consultation with the supervisory committee and which can include appropriate courses from MBB and/or other departments. Two of these eight units can come from colloquia and/or journal clubs, with journal clubs being completed as one-unit directed readings courses.

Transfer to PhD

Transfer to the PhD program requires successful completion of:

  • MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Candidacy Examination (3)

and

  • the transfer request must be initiated within the first 6 semesters of the master's program. As per graduate general regulation (GGR) 1.12.3, initial enrolment in the doctoral program will be the initial enrolment as a master's student.

For MSc students who entered the program in Spring 2015 and earlier: Students may transfer to PhD before taking MBB 806. Enrolment in MBB 806 requires permission of the student's supervisory committee based on suitable academic and research performance; MBB 806 must be completed within the first two semesters of enrolment in the PhD program.

For MSc students who entered the program in Summer 2015 and later: Transfer to the PhD program requires successful completion of MBB 806. Enrolment in MBB 806 requires permission of the student's supervisory committee based on suitable academic and research performance; after this permission is granted, MBB 806 must be completed within the following two semesters and no later than the 6th semester of enrolment in the MSc program.

Students applying for a transfer must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 in 75% of the graduate course work required for the degree.

Students must transfer by the end of their 6th semester.

Research

A major part of the program is original research. A thesis describing the research is submitted and defended in accordance with SFU Graduate General Regulations.

Students who are working on their Master of Science thesis must enroll in the following course every semester:

  • MBB 898 - MSc Thesis (18)

Thesis Defence
Thesis preparation, defence and submission is a very involved process with firm deadlines. Make sure to review the Graduate Thesis Timelines and contact the Graduate Program Assistant for guidelines in preparing, defending and submitting your thesis.

Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS)

This specialization is for students who are interested in gaining exposure to diverse facets of cancer-related research. Application to the program is through the Interdisciplinary Oncology Steering Committee. The MSc course requirements for this specialization are as follows:

Students complete the following graduate courses, including:

• MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3)
• ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
• ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)

and one unit of MBB colloquia by completing one of:

• MBB 821 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 822 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 823 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 861 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 863 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

And at least one of the following elective courses*:

• ONC 548 - Rotation in Oncology (3)
• BPK 851 - Recent Advances in Experimental Carcinogenesis (3)
• MBB 746 - Cell Death and Cell Survival (3)
• MBB 762 - Human Genomics (3)
• BISC 834 - Essential Cell Biology (3)
• HSCI 775 - Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics (3)
• HSCI 776 - Seminar in Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Environmental Exposure (3)
• HSCI 778 - Seminar in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)

*Note: Any relevant Special Topics course from any department may be included upon permission of the IOGS Steering Committee. Oncology related courses at other institutions may also be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Please consult with the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization Steering Committee for queries regarding course eligibility.

Anticipated Completion Time

The anticipated completion time of all program requirements for students enrolled in the MBB MSc program is 2 calendar years from initial enrollment. The maximum allowable time for completion of MSc requirements is 12 semesters of full-time equivalent enrollment. The 12 semester maximum is not the expected time for degree completion; it is an outside limit on the time permitted and is intended to take into account the many factors, both academic and personal, that may delay progress toward degree completion.

PhD Graduate Degree Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Course Work

Entry with a BSc or equivalent

Students who enter the program with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, or equivalent, will achieve a minimum total of 18 units, at least 15 of which must be in graduate courses, by completing all of:

  • MBB 801-3 Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I
  • MBB 806-3 PhD Graduate Research Candidacy Examination - must be taken no later than the 5th semester of program enrolment.

and one unit of MBB colloquium by completing one of:

  • MBB 821-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 822-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 823-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 861-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium
  • MBB 862-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium
  • MBB 863-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium

and another 11 units selected from other graduate courses, chosen in consultation with the supervisory committee and which can include appropriate courses from MBB and/or other departments. Two of these 11 units can come from colloquia and/or journal clubs, with journal clubs being completed as one-unit directed readings courses.

Entry with a MSc Degree

Students who enter the program with a Master of Science (MSc) degree will complete a minimum total of six units, including both of:

  • MBB 801-3 Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I
  • MBB 806-3 PhD Graduate Research Candidacy Examination - must be taken no later than the 5th semester of program enrolment.

If MBB 801 has already been completed, the remaining three units must be earned by completing appropriate graduate courses or colloquia.

Transfer to PhD

Transfer to the PhD program requires successful completion of:

  • MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Candidacy Examination (3)

For MSc students who entered the program in Spring 2015 and earlier: Students may transfer to PhD before taking MBB 806. Enrolment in MBB 806 requires permission of the student's supervisory committee based on suitable academic and research performance; MBB 806 must be completed within the first two semesters of enrolment in the PhD program.

For MSc students who entered the program in Summer 2015 and later: Transfer to the PhD program requires successful completion of MBB 806. Enrolment in MBB 806 requires permission of the student's supervisory committee based on suitable academic and research performance; after this permission is granted, MBB 806 must be completed within the following two semesters and no later than the 6th semester of enrolment in the MSc program.

Students applying for a transfer must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 in 75% of the graduate course work required for the degree.

Students must transfer by the end of their 6th semester.

Students who transfer from the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Master of Science program will achieve a minimum total of 18 units, at least 15 of which must be in graduate courses, by completing all of:

  • MBB 801-3 Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I
  • MBB 806-3 PhD Graduate Research Candidacy Examination - taken before transfer to PhD or within two semesters after transfer to PhD for those students who started their MSc program in Spring 2015 or earlier

and one unit of MBB colloquium by completing one of:

  • MBB 821-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 822-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 823-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium
  • MBB 861-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium
  • MBB 862-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium
  • MBB 863-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium

and another 11 units selected from other graduate courses, chosen in consultation with the supervisory committee and which can include appropriate courses from MBB and/or other departments. Two of these 11 units can come from colloquia and/or journal clubs, with journal clubs being completed as one-unit directed readings courses.

If MBB 801-3 has already been taken by the student, the remaining three units must be completed by taking appropriate graduate courses or colloquia.

Important note for MBB 806

Completion of MBB 806 with a grade of B+ or higher (very good to exceptional performance) is required for MSc students to transfer to the PhD program, and for students who enter the PhD program directly to continue towards their degree. Depending on the circumstances, the MBB Graduate Studies Committee may permit students who earn a grade below B+ to retake the course within an agreed period of time. Alternatively, the Graduate Studies Committee may allow such students to complete an MSc degree.

Research

The emphasis of the program is on original research. An original thesis contributing to new knowledge is presented and defended according to graduate general regulation 1.7.5. The defense includes a public seminar on the contents of the thesis.

Students who are working on their PhD thesis must enroll in the following course every semester:

  • MBB 899 - PhD Thesis (6)

Thesis Defence Thesis preparation, defence and submission is a very involved process with firm deadlines. Make sure to review the Graduate Thesis Timelines and contact the Graduate Program Assistant for guidelines in preparing, defending and submitting your thesis.

Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS)

Entry with a BSc or equivalent:

Students who enter the program with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, or equivalent, will complete all of:

• MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3)
• MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Seminar (3) +
• ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
• ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)

+ at the earliest opportunity following four terms of program enrolment

and one unit of MBB colloquia by completing one of:

• MBB 821 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 822 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 823 - Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium (1)
• MBB 861 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 862 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)
• MBB 863 - Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium (1)

and at least two of the following elective courses*:

• ONC 548 - Rotation in Oncology (3)
• BPK 851 - Recent Advances in Experimental Carcinogenesis (3)
• MBB 746 - Cell Death and Cell Survival (3)
• MBB 762 - Human Genomics (3)
• BISC 834 - Essential Cell Biology (3)
• HSCI 775 - Seminar in Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetics (3)
• HSCI 776 - Seminar in Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Environmental Exposure (3)
• HSCI 778 - Seminar in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)

*Note: Any relevant Special Topics course from any department may be included upon permission of the IOGS Steering Committee. Oncology related courses at other institutions may also be used to satisfy the elective requirement. Please consult with the Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization Steering Committee for queries regarding course eligibility.

Entry with an MSc Degree:

Students who enter the IOGS program with a Master of Science (MSc) degree will complete the following courses:

• MBB 801 - Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I (3) *
• MBB 806 - PhD Graduate Research Seminar (3) **
• ONC 502 - Concepts in Oncology (3)
• ONC 510 - Seminars in Oncology (3)

If a student has already completed the specialization as an MSc student, they may still enroll in the IOGS as a PhD student upon approval by the IOGS steering committee. Note that in this circumstance, ONC 510-3 must be taken for credit again in the PhD program, but ONC 502-3 cannot be taken again for credit.

* If MBB 801 has already been completed, then a minimum three courses are required, i.e. MBB 806, ONC 502 and ONC 510.
** at the earliest opportunity following two terms of program enrolment

Anticipated Completion Time

The anticipated completion time of all program requirements for students enrolled in the MBB PhD program is 4-5 calendar years from initial enrollment. The maximum allowable time for completion of PhD requirements is within eight calendar years of initial enrollment as a Doctoral student or, in the case of a student who has transferred from a Master's program into the Doctoral program without completing the Master's degree, within eight calendar years of initial enrollment as a Master's student. The 8 year maximum is not the expected time for degree completion; it is an outside limit on the time permitted and is intended to take into account the many factors, both academic and personal, that may delay progress toward degree completion.